Grab hook construction with clevis

ABSTRACT

An improved grab hook construction comprising a hook body having a tip portion at one end thereof and a shank portion at its opposite end. The shank portion is defined by a pair of spaced apertured arms having an apertured boss positioned therebetween and separated therefrom by slots. A clevis member defined by a Ushaped body having spaced apertured legs is pivotally interconnected with the shank portion of the hook body by a pivot pin positioned to extend through aligned openings in the shank portion arms, the boss portion, and the clevis legs when the clevis and hook body are interfitted. A chain link is connected with the clevis body and is precluded from separation therefrom while the clevis and hook body are pivotally interconnected.

1Jnited States Patent [1 1 Ratcliff r Mar. 12, 1974 GRAB HOOKCONSTRUCTION WITH CLEVIS [76] Inventor: Ralph A. Ratcliff, P.O. Box 543,

Belmont, Calif. 94002 [22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 279,496

[52] US. Cl. 24/2305 CR, 294/82 R [51] Int. Cl. A43c 11/08, B66c 1/36[58] Field of Search 294/78, 82; 24/2305 [5 6] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 831,984 9/1906 Peters 294/82 R 1,616,013 2/1927 Warren24/2305 CR 3,501,817 3/1970 Bambenek et-al. 294/82 R X FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 266,149 2/1927 Great Britain 24/2305 CR PrimaryExaminerDonald A. Griffin [5 7] ABSTRACT An improved grab hookconstruction comprising a hook body having a tip portion at one endthereof and a shank portion at its opposite end. The shank portion isdefined by a pair of spaced apertured arms having an apertured bosspositioned therebetween and separated therefrom by slots. A clevismember defined by a U-shaped body having spaced apertured legsis'pivotally interconnected with the shank portion of the hook body by apivot pin positioned to extend through aligned openings in the shankportion arms, the boss portion, and the clevis legs when the clevis andhook body are interfitted. A chain link is connected with the clevisbody and is precluded from separation therefrom while the clevis andhook body are pivotally interconnected.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 GRAB HOOK CONSTRUCTION WITH CLEVISBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to the field of hook constructions. More particularly, thisinvention relates to the field of grab hooks designed to be releasablyengaged with a length of coil chain for securingor sustaining a loadcarried by such chain. Still more particularly, this invention relatesto the field of improved grab hook constructions including improvedmeans for operatively connecting the hook construction with a chain linkso that the hook body may be more easily and effectively engaged with ordisengaged from a length of chain inserted in the throat opening of thehook.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore grab hooks of the generaltype with which this invention is involved have been operativelyconnected with a chain link by means of a connecting pin which waspassed directly through the chain link and through aligned openings in abifurcated shank portion of the hook body. So far as is known, theutilization of a clevis which is interengaged with a specially designedshank portion of a hook body in the manner disclosed herein has beenunknown heretofore.

With such prior art arrangements, it is more difficult to engage a grabhook with a length of coil chain than is true with the improved hookconstruction of this invention. The subject hook construction may bemore easily engaged with a length of coil chain at any suitable locationalong its length because of the greater pivotability between the hookbody and a chain link which is operatively connected with the clevismember.

That is, with the subject hook construction the hook body may be engagedwith a chain length by grasping the hook and moving the same intoengagement with the length of chain at a selected location. Heretofore,it has been generally necessary to insert the chain length intoengagementwith the hook body, rather than vice versa as above noted.When the chain is of substantial size and weight, it is easier tomanipulate the hook than to attempt to manipulate the chain length toengage the same with the hook. Thus, the subject hook construction, dueto its improved structural features, may be more readily engaged with achain length than can known prior art grab hook constructlons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an improvedgrab hook construction. More particularly, this invention relates to animproved grab hook construction having improved means for connecting thesame operatively with a chain link so that the throat opening of suchhook construction may be more easily engaged with a length of chain at apredetermined position along its length.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to an improved grab hookconstruction defined by a hook body having a hook portion which definesa throat opening and by a clevis body pivotally interconnected with thehook body. Still more particularly, this invention relates to animproved hook construction which includes a clevis member by means ofwhich a chain link is operatively connectable with the hook body inimproved pivotal fashion.

The present hook construction includes a novel arrangement by which aclevis member and a hook body member are pivotally interconnected tofacilitate and enhance pivotal connection between the hook constructionand a chain link operatively connected with the clevis so that a lengthof chain may be more easily connected with a throat opening formed inthe hook body.

From the foregoing, it should be understood that objects of thisinvention includes the provision of an improved grab hook construction;the provision of an improved grab hook construction defined by a hookbody and a pivotally interconnected clevis member; the provision ofan-improved grab hook construction in combination with a chain linkpivotally connected with a clevis member which in turn is pivotallyinterconnected with a hook body member; and the provision of improvedpivotal interconnecting means between a U- shaped clevis member and ahook body member having a shank portion contoured to interfit with theclevis member.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of thesubject hook construction in disassembled condition illustrating detailsof construction of the components thereof.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the hook construction of thisinvention showing the same assembled and operatively connected incombination with a chain link.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the assembled hookconstruction-chain combination corresponding to that shown in FIG. 2 buton a slightly smaller scale.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a conventional grab hookconstruction characteristic of the prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The grab hook construction ofthis invention comprises two principal components operativelyinterconnected with each other by a pivot member. In that regard, thehook construction generally designated 1 comprises a hook member 2 and aclevis member 3. The hook member is defined by a hook body contouredgenerally in accordance with the configuration of known grab hookconstructions designed for releasable and selective inner-engagementwith a length of coil chain. To that end, the hook body comprises a hookportion 4 at one end of the body which defines a generally narrow throatopening 6 between the central portion 7 of the hook body and the tip 8thereof.

Thus, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a length of coil chain, generallydesignated 9, may be interengaged releasably and rapidly with the hookbody by inserting a preselected link ll thereof laterally intoengagement with the throat opening 6. The links 12 and 13 lying onopposite sides of link ll and integrally connected therewith precludeseparation of the length of chain 9 from the hook in known fashion.

At its other end, the hook body is defined by a shank portionspecifically designed to incorporate the novel features of thisinvention therein. Such shank portion is generally designated l4 andcomprises a pair of apertured laterally spaced mounting arms 16 and 17having openings 18 and 19 respectively extending laterally therethrough.Such openings are axially aligned with each other.

lnterposed between the spaced arms 16 and 17 is a boss portion 21 whichhas an opening 22 extending laterally therethrough, the latter beingaxially aligned with the openings 18 and 19 in the shank portion arms 16and 17. Slots 23 and 24 are provided between the spaced arms at oppositeends of the boss so that the boss is separated from such arms by theslots, as best seen in FIG. 1.

The clevis member 3 is defined by a generally U- shaped body 26 whichterminates in a pair of parallel laterally spaced apertured legs 27 and28, having openings 29 and 31 respectively extending therethrough. Suchopenings are axially aligned with each other.

The legs 27 and 28 of the clevis are provided with opposed planar sidesurfaces and the lateral dimension of such legs corresponds generallyto, but is slightly less than, the lateral dimension of the slots 23 and24 in the hook shank portion. Thus, as seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, theclevis member may be slidably interfitted into the slots 23 and 24 untilthe openings 29 and 31 in the clevis legs are aligned with the openings18 and 19 in the hook arms and the opening 22 in the hook boss.

When thus aligned, a connecting member may be inserted through thealigned openings to positively preclude separation of the clevis fromthe hook shank portion in the manner seen in FIG. 3. Such connectingmember in the embodiment illustrated comprises a pivot pin 32 of knownconstruction. Such pin 32 is generally right circular cylindrical inconfiguration and the diameter thereof preferably is slightly less thanthe diameter of the circular openings 18 and 19 in the hook arms 16 and17 and the openings 29 and 31 in the clevis legs 27 and 28. Thus, thepin may be slidably interfitted axially through the aligned openings 18and 29 at one side of the hook construction and also through the alignedopenings 19 and 31 at the opposite side of the hook construction. Thus,the pin may be inserted from either side of the hook construction.

Preferably the diameter of pin 32 is slightly greater than the diameterof the circular opening 22 passing through the boss 21 of the hook shankportion. Thus, the pin must be force fitted or pressed into the bossopening 22 in known fashion. Thus, when the pivot pin is moved to theoperative position shown in FIG. 3, separation of the clevis from thehook body is positively precluded. If desired, the pivot pin 32 may beprovided with enlarged splines or projections intermediate its ends tofurther enhance the press-fit between it and the boss portion of thehook body.

When the pivot pin is in position, as shown in FIG. 3, the clevis 3 andthe hook body are free to pivot in all directions about the axis of thepivot pin.

As noted from FIGS. 2 and 3, the clevis of the hook construction isdesigned to be interfitted in combination with a chain link, designated36, which in turn forms one link of a length of chain. That is, link 36is connected with an adjacent link 37 of the length of chain with whichthe hook construction is to operatively be connected so long as theclevis member and hook member are operatively interconnected. Thus, thehook construction is generally permanently connected with the length ofchain defined by links 36 and 37, whereas the hook construction isreleasably engageable with the length of chain 9 selectively engaged inthe throat opening 6 as described previously.

With the improved hook construction of this invention, engagement of thehook body with the length of chain 9 at any predetermined location alongits length is facilitated because of the greater pivotal flexibilitybetween the hook construction and the length of chain defined by chainlink 36. That is, with the present arrangement, it is a simple matter tograsp the hook body and to manipulate the same to engage the throatthereof with a predetermined link of chain length 9. Heretofore, it wasgenerally necessary to grasp the length of chain 9 and to engage thechain with the hook, rather than vice versa as above noted.

In that connection, referring to FIG. 4, a conventional grab hookdesigned for engagement with a length of coil chain characteristic ofthe prior art is shown. Such conventional hook construction comprises ahook body 41 having a bifurcated shank opposite from the throat openingtherein. The shank is defined by a pair of spaced arms 42 and 43 whichare provided with aligned openings 44 and 46 therethrough. A connectingpin 47 having a head 48 at one end thereof and a cotter pin 49 extendinglaterally through the other end thereof is provided to define means forinterconnecting such conventional hook construction with a chain link 51as seen in FIG. 4.

With the prior art construction shown in FIG. 4, the manipulativeflexibility characteristic of the subject hook construction is absent inthat the prior known hook body may be pivoted only in one directionrelative to the chain link 51 connected therewith. With the present hookconstruction, pivotal movement of the hook body in substantially alldirections relative to the chain link 36 may be affected because thehook body may pivot relative to the clevis and the clevis in turn maypivot relative to the chain link. Thus, greater pivotal flexibility isprovided with the present invention which facilitates engagement of thehook throat with a length of chain 9 as described.

Having thus disclosed a preferred embodiment of this invention andadvantages thereof, reference is directed to the appended claims for thescope of protection to be afforded thereto.

I claim:

1. An improved grab hook construction comprising A. a hook bodyhaving 1. a hook portion defining a throat opening at one end thereofwith which a length of chain is releasably engageable, and

2. a shank portion at its other end comprising spaced mounting armsalong a free margin thereof,

3. a boss portion interposed between said spaced arms and separatedtherefrom by slots at its opposite ends,

4. said arms having aligned openings extending laterally therethrough,

5. said boss portion having an opening extending laterally therethroughin alignment with said openings in said arms,

B. a clevis member interfitted with said mounting arms of said shankportion defined by l. a generally U-shaped body which terminates inspaced legs,

2. said legs having aligned openings extending laterally therethrough,

C. said clevis being interfitted with said shank portion with saidclevis legs received in said slots, and

D. a pivot pin extending laterally through said aligned openings in saidshank portion arms and boss portion and said clevis legs,

1. said pin interconnecting said clevis and said hook body for freepivotal movement relative to each other.

2. The hook construction of claim 1 in which the size of said pivot pinis less than the size of said openings in said clevis legs so that saidclevis is freely pivotal on said pin, and in which the size of said pinis slightly greater than the size of said opening in said boss so thatsaid pin is non-rotatably fitted in said boss opening to preventinadvertent separation of said pin from said boss.

3. In combination,

A. an improved grab hook construction, and

B. a chain link operatively connected with said hook construction; saidhook construction comprising 1. a hook body having a. a hook portiondefining a throat opening at one end thereof with which a length ofchain is releasably engageable, and

b. a shank portion at its other end comprising spaced mounting armsalong a free margin thereof,

c. a boss portion interposed between said spaced arms and separatedtherefrom by slots at its opposite ends,

d. said arms having aligned openings extending laterally therethrough,

e. said boss portion having an opening extending laterally therethroughin alignment with said openings in said arms,

2. a clevis member interfitted with said mounting arms of said shankportion defined by a. a generally U-shaped body which terminates inspaced legs,

b. said legs having aligned openings extending laterally therethrough,

3. said clevis being interfitted with said shank portion with saidclevis legs received in said slots, and

4. a pivot pin extending laterally through said aligned openings in saidshank portion arms and boss portion and said clevis legs,

a. said pin interconnecting said clevis and said hook body for freepivotal movement relative to each other,

5. said chain link being pivotally connected with said clevis body andprecluded from separation therefrom so long as said clevis body and saidhook body are pivotally interconnected.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which the size of said pivot pin isless than the size of said openings in said clevis legs so that saidclevis is freely pivotal on said pin, and in which the size of said pinis slightly greater than the size of said opening in said boss so thatsaid pin is non-rotatably fitted in said boss opening to preventinadvertent separation of said pin from said boss.

1. An improved grab hook construction comprising A. a hook bodyhaving
 1. a hook portion defining a throat opening at one end thereofwith which a length of chain is releasably engageable, and
 2. a shankportion at its other end comprising spaced mounting arms along a freemargin thereof,
 3. a boss portion interposed between said spaced armsand separated therefrom by slots at its opposite ends,
 4. said armshaving aligned openings extending laterally therethrough,
 5. said bossportion having an opening extending laterally therethrough in alignmentwith said openings in said arms, B. a clevis member interfitted withsaid mounting arms of said shank portion defined by
 1. a generallyU-shaped body which terminates in spaced legs,
 2. said legs havingaligned openings extending laterally therethrough, C. said clevis beinginterfitted with said shank portion with said clevis legs received insaid slots, and D. a pivot pin extending laterally through said alignedopenings in said shank portion arms and boss portion and said clevislegs,
 1. said pin interconnecting said clevis and said hook body forfree pivotal movement relative to each other.
 2. a shank portion at itsother end comprising spaced mounting arms along a free margin thereof,2. a clevis member interfitted with said mounting arms of said shankportion defined by a. a generally U-shaped body which terminates inspaced legs, b. said legs having aligned openings extending laterallytherethrough,
 2. said legs having aligned openings extending laterallytherethrough, C. said clevis being interfitted with said shank portionwith said clevis legs received in said slots, and D. a pivot pinextending laterally through said aligned openings in said shank portionarms and boss portion and said clevis legs,
 2. The hook construction ofclaim 1 in which the size of said pivot pin is less than the size ofsaid openings in said clevis legs so that said clevis is freely pivotalon said pin, and in which the size of said pin is slightly greater thanthe size of said opening in said boss so that said pin is non-rotatablyfitted in said boss opening to prevent inadvertent separation of saidpin from said boss.
 3. In combination, A. an improved grab hookconstruction, and B. a chain link operatively connected with said hookconstruction; said hook construction comprising
 3. said clevis beinginterfittEd with said shank portion with said clevis legs received insaid slots, and
 3. a boss portion interposed between said spaced armsand separated therefrom by slots at its opposite ends,
 4. said armshaving aligned openings extending laterally therethrough,
 4. a pivot pinextending laterally through said aligned openings in said shank portionarms and boss portion and said clevis legs, a. said pin interconnectingsaid clevis and said hook body for free pivotal movement relative toeach other,
 4. The combination of claim 3 in which the size of saidpivot pin is less than the size of said openings in said clevis legs sothat said clevis is freely pivotal on said pin, and in which the size ofsaid pin is slightly greater than the size of said opening in said bossso that said pin is non-rotatably fitted in said boss opening to preventinadvertent separation of said pin from said boss.
 5. said chain linkbeing pivotally connected with said clevis body and precluded fromseparation therefrom so long as said clevis body and said hook body arepivotally interconnected.
 5. said boss portion having an openingextending laterally therethrough in alignment with said openings in saidarms, B. a clevis member interfitted with said mounting arms of saidshank portion defined by